By Segun Adewale in Gombe
The fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV), particularly sexual assault of minors in Gombe State received a boost following the launching of a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) at the State Specialist Hospital, Gombe.
Collaborating towards establishing the centre were the efforts of the Gombe State Government with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Kishimi Shelter and Care Foundation.
There are many cases of GBV most of which are not reported or are being under reported, particularly, sexual offences against minors.
The GBV rising cases are worsen by an unhealthy culture of silence exhibited by survivors or their relatives because of stigma whenever there is an occurrence, leaving the survivors traumatized and thus, negatively affecting the society in many ways.
Considering this negative impact, an initiative spanning some years culminated in the launching of the Centre that is expected to provide care, protection, and justice for survivors of sexual violence in the State.
In the One Stop Shop (OSS) are stationed health, security, psychosocial support, legal and Women Affairs Ministry personnel who provide safe corridors for the assaulted survivors.
Fomally launching the centre yesterday on behalf of the Gombe State Deputy Governor, Manasseh Daniel Jatau, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru explained that the administration’s concern over the growing number of sexual assault cases influenced the establishment of the the Centre.
According to him, it is the the product of collaboration between the Gombe State Government, UNICEF, and other development partners to ensure survivors receive timely and comprehensive support.
He said the Centre will serve as a one-stop shop that’ll provide medical treatment, psychological counselling, rehabilitation, and legal support adding that the centre is strategically positioned at a section of the hospital to guarantee privacy and protect survivors from stigma.
The Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique said the centre is a product of necessity to respond to cases but not an ultimate solution.
She pointed out that prevention remains the goal and called on families, communities, and institutions to work together to end sexual assault emphasizing that, “protecting children is a collective responsibility”.
Musa Manaja Zambuk, a member of the Gombe State House of Assembly and a Health Committee member, said the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition and Child Protection Laws demonstrates the state’s legislatures resolve to tackle sexual violence, stressing the need for full implementation of the laws to ensure punishment of perpetrators.
In his address, the Chief Medical Director of the Specialist Hospital, Gombe, Dr Sambo Dawa, revealed that between 2021 and 2025, the hospital recorded 645 cases of sexual assault on children aged ten to fourteen, especially from rural areas.
He expressed confidence that with the formal launching of the centre, it will improve access to care and reduce delays in response.
The SARC is equipped with a sickbay, counselling unit, pharmacy, laboratory, and security desk and other facilities designed to restore dignity and give survivors a chance to heal.
Speaking to our Correspondent, the Executive Director, Kishimi Shelter and Care Foundation, Mrs Grace Samuel commended the State Government for establishing the centre as well as creating an enabling environment for partners such as her Foundation which served as a referral pathway between survivors, communities and the centre.
Her Foundation is in strong collaboration with lawyers, Police, NSCDC, medical workers, psychosocial support providers among other stakeholders.
